Seven7 Drive for Kids with Cancer celebrates 10 years of adventure and hope

A small but spirited team of adventurers has embarked on the 10th anniversary edition of the annual Seven7 Drive for Kids with Cancer, a seven-day, eight-province expedition filled with passion, purpose, and heart. Powered by the new GWM P300 LS 4x4, the journey began on Sunday, 26 October 2025, from Johannesburg’s Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, setting off on a route that spans thousands of kilometres in support of children battling cancer.

Where passion and purpose meet adventure

At the helm once again is expedition leader and co-founder Danie Botha, a seasoned adventurer who has traversed almost every kind of terrain South Africa has to offer. Behind the wheel of the GWM P300, Botha will guide the crew from Johannesburg to Pretoria, stopping along the way to visit hospitals and spread awareness about childhood cancer.

“While the Seven7 Drive for Kids with Cancer NPC is shifting its focus to education and early detection, the annual Drive remains our flagship fundraiser,” says Botha. “This year’s route allows us to revisit hospitals where we’ve built lasting relationships over the past decade.”

Joining Botha this year is acclaimed filmmaker Koos Roets, a name synonymous with classic South African cinema through works like Paljas and Faan se Trein. Roets, who hails from Klaarstroom in the Karoo, will document the journey for a 24-minute television special set for release early in 2026.

The project carries a deeply personal meaning for Roets. “I never really experienced cancer up close until I watched my brother succumb to it,” he shares. “To help kids fighting this disease, even in a small way, means the world to me. If we can make a difference in just one child’s life, it will be worth every kilometre.”

The road ahead

Day one saw the team visit Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg before travelling east to Pietermaritzburg’s Grey Hospital. After an overnight stay in Himeville, Day 2 takes them along a rugged route over Naude’s Nek Pass into the Eastern Cape, ending with a visit to Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein.

From there, the journey zigzags across the country, from Bloemfontein to Gqeberha for a stop at the Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital, then to Kareedouw, where Norma Jean’s Diner and Assegaaibosch Country Hotel provide hospitality. The crew will then continue to Cape Town’s Tygerberg Children’s Hospital before heading north to Kimberley’s Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital.

Day 6, the toughest stretch, takes them from Kimberley to Marakele National Park near Thabazimbi for a well-earned rest before the final push to Polokwane and Pretoria’s Steve Biko Academic Hospital, where the 2025 Seven7 Drive will conclude.

A journey of remembrance and giving

This year’s journey also carries an emotional note following the absence of Ahsheem Singh, who was set to rejoin the team after participating in 2024’s Drive. Singh, whose first experience was “life-changing,” was forced to withdraw after sustaining injuries in a cycling accident.

“I never expected to come home a changed man,” Singh said of his previous journey. “Visiting children’s wards around the country restored my faith in humanity and showed me how small actions can make a big difference.”

Driven by generosity

The Seven7 Drive’s success relies on the generosity of sponsors and communities alike. Johannesburg-based Wrap Vehicles has supported the initiative for a decade, donating the distinctive decals that adorn the team’s vehicle each year. Their craftsmanship has helped make the Seven7 Drive instantly recognisable wherever it travels.

At the grassroots level, the town of Kareedouw once again opens its arms to the convoy. “Compared to what the organisers do, our contribution is small,” says Wilna Moolman of Norma Jean’s Diner. “But it’s our privilege to welcome back the Seven7 team.”

From gravel roads to city highways, the Seven7 Drive for Kids with Cancer remains a powerful symbol of compassion in motion, proving that adventure can be a force for good, one kilometre at a time.